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Welcome to NUS part II
Saturday, December 02, 2006 5:33 PM Hi, it's been a really long time since I last updated this blog huh? Sorry man, I've been so overwhelmed these past four months in university, I hardly had the time for anything but CCAs and mugging (and wasting my time playing silly games in response to having to study so much. I'll explain this some other time, if ever). First of all, I must concede that I had a joyfully eventful time at NUS. I say this with reservation because I entered NUS in an extremely jaded and cynical frame of mind. Having graduated from over 10 years of MOE education and 2 years of SAF education (well, depending on how you look at it, ANYTHING can be considered education), I fully expected NUS to be what all other local institutions had thus far been: full of 'wayang' and no substance. And so it was that after a few weeks, I began to find that NUS wasn't really as bad as they claimed it to be after all. Sure, there is a general air of 'muggerism' and a pervading 'study for the sake of exams' kind of attitude among the student population, but I began to notice that this kind of attitude was prevalent in overseas universities in US and UK too, apparently. And I must concede that I was quite impressed with the infrastructure provided by NUS; the buses, the internet, the IVLE (I was especially surprised that the IVLE forums and many other functions were being so well-utilised, for I had thought IVLE was like some sort of technological white elephant), etc... Maybe such 'standards' are all but an expected minimum for a 'Top 50' institute of tertiary education in the world, but having come from a purported top junior college and secondary school which offered nothing close, I guess it's reasonable for me to be dazzled. Of course, academically speaking, I also felt that actually, the standard of the lecturers in NUS wasn't all that bad as they claimed. There were good professors who were not only good academics, but also good educators. Perhaps I was fortunate to have picked the right modules (I accidentally picked a law module, which turned out to be quite my most enjoyable module so far), but I thought the professors really sought to get us students to learn something, to truly educate. Having said all that, what truly brought me joy nevertheless, I think, was staying in on campus. If you think about it, the reason why an overseas education is so sought after is really because it widens one's horizons. Someone who's studied half the globe away for 3-4 years looks at the world in different eyes I guess. And living independently away from home is one of these intangible educating mechanisms. So for me, I was pursuing an overseas education at NUS for the 5 days I was away from home, free to be whoever I wanted to be. Until the exams loomed around the corner, and I chickened out and went home on some of the weekdays. As for the many events that transpired during my stay at KEVII Hall, I don't think I'll be able to find the time to write about them properly on this blog. To give a rough idea of the kind of life I led in hall, firstly, I think I lived in quite a spartan manner, having only ever gone for supper at Fong Seng once (on 16th November, the day of many firsts), and not having depended on any snacks or 'dietary supplements' in my room except milo. Until the examination period when cup noodles and chocolates made their way onto my shelves. Secondly, I've joined KEVII Hallplay, being delegated the role of lights I/C (because the original lights I/C, an experienced lights person, decided to sign up to be assistant production manager, and then asked me to take over his job). I'm with the road relay (ie, a jogging CCA), as well as the publications committee. Lastly, in this intensive starting four months at NUS, I was with the Varsity Christian Fellowship at KEVII, and through it all, God was abundant in His grace and mercy to me. Well, I hate to admit it, but I think university looks like it's going to be quite an exciting chapter of my life. ( 4 comment) |
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